Six Moto’s, Six wins, and every single lap lead. It’s been a dream start for Jett Lawrence in his 450 rookie season in 2023. But High Point is next. Another challenge. But in the big picture, there are still Sixteen Moto’s to go.
Thunder Valley started with another bang. Almost literally in that first turn of Moto One for the 250’s. We lost another couple of top riders in that one to injury. Somehow our Aussie boy Hunter Lawrence managed to be behind the start drama with his somewhat customary bad first moto start. That led him to sneak around the inside and work himself into the moto.
Chase Sexton continues to be an unknown return question at this stage. However with the upcoming week off in the schedule, one would think he is back in action for RedBud after the break.
Ken Roczen is making a surprise visit to the Outdoor series this week. His one outdoor this year maybe? But don’t forget Kenny was last seen leaving Salt Lake City Supercross holding his knee. Is this round just a tester for him before WSX in 2weeks to ensure he is ready to go physically? Or is he all in on ending the Jett streak?
We have Phil Nicoletti making a return from injury this week. The ClubMX rider has been out since Oakland Supercross in February with a wrist injury. His debut in the 450 class this year will help boost the numbers in the field that has been severely hit in 2023. Expect to see a few more returning riders from the following round at RedBud.
Marshal Weltin of the HEP Suzuki team has “Tweaked his leg” according to the team’s PR after Thunder Valley. He is out this weekend and depending on what is found with investigations for him. Might see further updates on his status before the next round. Let’s hope it’s not the same knee he injured at the end of last year’s outdoor series that required reconstructive surgery on his ACL.
Unfortunately, the mid-week training has led to more injuries also. Tyler Stepek after a solid first Moto at Thunder Valley has had a crash practicing this week and broke his femur and dislocated his hip. This will see him out of action for around 3-6 months pending the need for further hardware removal surgeries as his recovery progresses.
We have another big season happening in the AlwaysMoto Fantasy league with plenty of prizes up for grabs. To enter email fantasy@alwaysmoto.com to get the league details.
Remember to stay updated on all the injury news via our social feeds @always.moto on Instagram. Check out more in-depth conversations on all the injuries in our sport on the AlwaysMoto podcast on your favourite podcast app or here on Spotify
See you next round Moto fans.
#injuriesareapartofmoto
This list has who we know has an injury. What that injury is and when we expect them back at the races. Maybe some extras if you’re lucky!
If we have missed a rider or got an injury update wrong let us know. info@alwaysmoto.com
The Emergency Department List
Guillem Farres #88 – Star Racing Yamaha
Injured When? Thunder Valley – Moto 1
Injured What? Left Humerus fracture
Return to Riding Timeframe – 8-12 weeks pending surgical outcomes.
Next race prediction – Likely out for MX. Return for SX 2024
Tom Vialle #128 – Red Bull KTM
Injured When? Thunder Valley – Moto 1
Injured What? Wrist injury
Return to Riding Timeframe – 1 week
Next race prediction – Expected to be racing at High Point
Carson Mumford #52 – Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Injured When? Thunder Valley – Qualifying
Injured What? Beat up.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 1 week
Next race prediction – Out for High Point, expected to return by RedBud
Jett Reynolds #124 – Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Injured When? Thunder Valley – Moto 1
Injured What? Beat Up
Return to Riding Timeframe – 1 week
Next race prediction – Out for High Point, expected to return by RedBud
Marshal Welton #50 – HEP Suzuki
Injured When? Thunder Valley – Moto 1
Injured What? “Tweaked Leg”
Return to Riding Timeframe – Unclear at this time.
Next race prediction – further updates to come on this once investigations are completed.
Joshua Varize #42 – AEO KTM
Injured When? Thunder Valley – Moto 1
Injured What? Fractured Collarbone. Joshua is having surgery on this injury and will be looking to return before the end of the MX season.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6 weeks
Next race prediction – Maybe Unadilla for round 9
Jake Runkles #227 – Privateer GasGas
Injured When? Thunder Valley – Moto 1
Injured What? Broken Arm
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6-8 weeks pending intervention.
Next race prediction – Maybe Unadilla for round 9
Jeremy Martin #6 – ClubMX Yamaha
Injured When? Hangtown – Moto 2
Injured What? Right Wrist and Elbow Fractures and dislocations.
Return to Riding Timeframe – unclear. Requires second surgery and timeframes are not known at this stage.
Next race prediction – Unclear, may be out for MX series.
Michael Mosiman #31 – TLD GasGas
Injured When? Hangtown – Moto 2
Injured What? Shoulder surgery completed
Return to Riding Timeframe – unclear.
Next race prediction – Likely out until 2024 SX
Chase Sexton #23 – HRC Honda
Injured When? Mid Week before Hangtown
Injured What? Concussion and Mono diagnosis
Return to Riding Timeframe – 1-6 wks. Pending the mono recovery
Next race prediction – Unclear Maybe around Redbud.
Robbie Wageman #59 – BarX Suzuki
Injured When? Mid Week before Hangtown
Injured What? AC Separation
Return to Riding Timeframe – 1-6 wks. Pending grade of injury.
Next race prediction – Unclear Maybe around Redbud.
Eli Tomac #1 – Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
Injured When? Denver
Injured What? Left Achilles tendon rupture
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6-9months
Next race prediction – Unclear
Jason Anderson #21 – Monster Energy Kawasaki
Injured When? Nashville
Injured What? C5 and C6 vertebrae fractures – non-displaced.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6-8wks
Next race prediction – Potentially round 5 at Redbud. More likely sometime after round 6.
Justin Barcia #51 – TLD Gas Gas
Injured When? Nashville
Injured What? Collarbone Fracture and two ribs and his shoulder
Return to Riding Timeframe – Justin had an issue with the plate in his collarbone and had to redo surgery. His recovery timeframe is now unclear but expect a further six weeks until he is on the bike.
Next race prediction – Unclear following the recent setback.
John Short #73 – Privateer Kawasaki
Injured When? Nashville
Injured What? Aggravated a hand injury, and has completed surgery.
Return to Riding Timeframe – tried to ride before Denver and had to pull out of Denver round.
Next race prediction – Unclear at this stage
Pierce Brown #33 – TLD GasGas
Injured When? Friday before Nashville
Injured What? Broken Hand and confirmed he had been carrying a meniscus injury in his knee for some time this season. Had surgery on both this past week
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6-8wks pending surgical outcome
Next race prediction – Mid outdoors pending recovery outcomes for both surgeries.
Nate Thrasher #29 – Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
Injured When? Atlanta
Injured What? Right Dislocated Hip, Left Collarbone Fracture
Return to Riding Timeframe – 8-12 weeks pending the surgical repair to the bone fragments Thrasher reported are in his hip.
Next race prediction – Late Outdoors 2023 at best.
Lance Kobusch #95 – Privateer Honda
Injured When? Atlanta
Injured What? Left Collarbone Fracture
Return to Riding Timeframe – 4-6weeks
Next race prediction – Unclear
Christian Craig #28 – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Racing
Injured When? Glendale
Injured What? Dislocated Elbow and Dislocated hip
Return to Riding Timeframe – 8-12 weeks pending when the surgical repair of the elbow can occur as it’s delayed at this stage to let swelling go down.
Next race prediction – Mid Outdoors 2023.
Stilez Robertson #40 – Star Racing Yamaha
Injured When? Glendale
Injured What? Right Lower Leg, Tib/Fib Fracture
Return to Riding Timeframe – has completed surgery and will likely be out for 8-12 weeks.
Next race prediction – Mid to Late Outdoors 2023
Cameron Mcadoo #48 – Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Injured When? Mid Week before Glendale
Injured What? Right Shoulder – dislocated and torn labrum resulting in surgery being completed
Return to Riding Timeframe – Approx 12wks
Next race prediction – Mid to Late Outdoors 2023 at best.
Carter Stephenson #824 – Privateer
Injured When? Mid Week before Glendale – Road incident whilst riding his Harley
Injured What? Concussion, Fracture to Right forearm and elbow.
Return to Riding Timeframe – Approx 12wks
Next race prediction – Mid Outdoors 2023 all going well.
Bubba Pauli #282
Injured When? Indy
Injured What? Amputated the tip of his Left Thumb
Return to Riding Timeframe – has resumed riding with his amputated thumb.
Next race prediction – Unclear, likely SX 24 if at all pending his injury allowing him to perform at the highest level.
Jesse Flock #167
Injured When? Daytona
Injured What? 4 broken ribs, punctured lung, fractured T2 vertebrae. Bone bruising on the left arm.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6-8wks
Next race prediction – Unclear at this time.
Jonah Geistler #115
Injured When? Daytona
Injured What? T1 and T4 fractures, 1st rib fracture and a small brain bleed
Return to Riding Timeframe – Recovered from Daytona crash but has taken the opportunity to have some hardware removed from his leg that had been bothering him.
Next race prediction – Out until Mid Motocross
Phil Nicoletti #69 – ClubMX Yamaha
Injured When? Oakland
Injured What? Dislocated Wrist, Ulnar Lunate dislocation. The treatment needed is still pending.
Return to Riding Timeframe – Is back on the bike and training.
Next race prediction – This weekend at High Point
Nick Romano #54 – Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
Injured When? Pre-Season – January 3rd.
Injured What? Right ACL tear and Meniscus injury. Surgery completed14/2/23
Return to Riding Timeframe – Approx. 6 months.
Next race prediction – 2024 SX.
Malcolm Stewart #27 – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna
Injured When? Training incident.
Injured What? ACL tear in his Knee
Return to Riding Timeframe – Approx. 6 Months
Next race prediction – Likely out until 2024 SX pending recovery time for ACL graft type used.
Seth Hammaker #35 – Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Injured When? Training incident.
Injured What? Wrist injury.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6 weeks
Next race prediction – The aim is for around Red Bud but no further updates on this as yet.
Marvin Musquin #25 – RedBull KTM
Injured When? Mid-week prior to San Diego
Injured What? Broken Scaphoid.
Return to Riding Timeframe – Is back on the bike but nothing official about a return to racing or retirement etc.
Next race prediction – Unclear
Austin Forkner #55 – Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Injured When? Anaheim 1
Injured What? Right Knee and Left Hand. The Right knee is the main issue. ACL Tear, Partial tears to PCL and MCL ligaments. Both Medial and Lateral Meniscus tears and a tibial Plateau fracture.
Return to Riding Timeframe – Is back on the bike after 5 months of recovery.
Next race prediction – Unclear at this time.
Justin Rodbell #70 – Privateer
Injured When? Pre-Season
Injured What? Torn Achilles Tendon. AlwaysMoto checked in with Justin just a few days after his surgery to repair the tear. Justin has a long road ahead with the recovery.
Return to Riding Timeframe – Justin was aiming to be back for the season opener but is having issues with his recovery and his return is delayed
Next race prediction – unclear return time at this stage
Brandon Hartranft #37 – HEP Twisted Tea Suzuki
Injured When? Pre-Season
Injured What? Multiple injuries. L1-2 Endplate fractures, L3-4 Transverse process fractures, L1-3 Spinous processes, Left Hip dislocation, Multiple rib fractures, right scapular fracture, Right hemothorax (Lung injury).
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6-12 months
Next race prediction – Unclear at this early stage of recovery for these injuries.
Kyle Greeson #204 – Privateer
Injured When? Pre-Season
Injured What? L3 Burst Fracture
Return to Riding Timeframe – 3Months +
Next race prediction – Unclear, but is back on the bike as of May. But no return to racing plans as yet.
